Magazine structures for vending machines



Nov. l, 1966 H. w. MEREsz ETAL 3,232,456

MAGAZINE STRUCTURES FOR VENDING MACHINES med sept. 11, 1964 5 Sheets-Sheet 1 Lillie-hals.. "A

PER/355m /V/ BY INVENTORS. MER

N0 1 1966 H. w. MEREsz ETAL 3,282,466

MAGAZINE STRUCTURES FOR VENDING MACHINES Filed Sept. ll, 1964 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTORS. HENRY/f W MEHESZ Nov. 1, 1966 H. w. MEREsz r-:TAL 3,282,466

MAGAZINE STRUCTURES FOR VENDING MACHINES Filed sept. 11, 1964 5 Shee tls-Sheet INVENTORS HE/VRYK W MERESZ [IK/AZN@ PERP G/V/V/ Nov. 1, 1966 H. w. MERl-:sz ETAL. 3,282,466

MAGAZINE STRUCTURES FOR VENDING MCHINES Filed Sept. l1, 1964 5 Sheets-Sheet -1 INVENTORS. MERESZ 29 HENRY/f W N0 l, 1966 H. w. MEREsz ETAL 3,282,466

MAGAZINE STRUCTURES FOR VENDING MACHINES Filed Sept. l1, 1964 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 INVENTORS. HENRY/f W. ME

R552 MA /VOR. PER /G/V/V/ United States Patent O M 3,282,466 MAGAZINE STRUCTURES FOR VENDIN MACHINES Henryk W. Meresz, Chicago, and Marino R. Perpignani, La Grange, Ill., assignors, by mesne assignments, to The Seeburg Corporation, Chicago, Ill., a corporation of Delaware Filed Sept. 11, 1964, Ser. No. 395,668 1l Claims. (Cl. 221-124) This invention relates generally to vending machines and more particularly to improvements in the storage magazine section thereof.

This application is a continuation-impart of copending United States patent application, entitled Pneumatic Vending Machine, filed Iune 30, 1964, in the name of Henryk W. Meresz and Marino R. Perpignani, Serial No. 379,973.

Broadly described, the present invention comprises improvements in the article storage portion of a vending machine in which a plurality of magazine sections are provided, each being adapted to hold a column of vendible articles, disposed one on top of the other. The side walls of each magazine section are adjustable so that the section may be adapted to receive therein articles having varying dimensions. Each magazine section is pivotable about an axis adjacent its lower portion, whereby it is movable between a generally vertical article-vending disposition and a generally horizontal article-loading disposition. The rearward side of the magazine section is open, thereby permitting easy loading of vendible articles. The open side is provided with a pivotable cover member which is normally biased to close against and prevent movement of the column of vendible articles, except when the magazine section is disposed in the article-vending position. Means are provided for steadily urging the column of articles upwardly only when the magazine section is disposed in the article-vending position, said means ceasing to urge the column of articles upwardly whenever the magazine section is pivoted out of the article-vending position.

Conventionally, vending machines have employed storage sections comprising a number of vertical column mazagines in vv ich vendible articles, such as packages of cigarettes, are disposed one above the other. The articles are loaded at the top of a given magazine and are fed to the bottom thereof by gravity. The use of gravity to move the articles within the column magazine results, of necessity, in the articles being delivered at the bottom of the machine, at the level of the purchasers knees, or only slightly thereabove. Such knee-level delivery is one of the principal shortcomings of vending machines heretobefore known, resulting as it does in inconvenience to the purchaser. Furthermore, typical conventional column magazines are ditiicult or inconvenient to load, since it is usually necessary to load the vendible articles one at a time at the top of the column. Moreover, storage magazines known to the art are of a constant, non-adjustable shape and hence can only be used with articles having xed dimensions. Thus, for example, a given conventional magazine may not be used interchangeably for regular and king-sized cigarette packages.

Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to provide, in a vending machine, an improved magazine section which is pivotable with respect to the vending machine between a generally vertical Aarticle-vending disposition and a generally horizontal article-loading disposition.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a magazine storage section of the character described having means adapted to feed vendible articles upwardly within the section for dispensation from the top portion thereof.

3,282,456 Patented Nov. l., 1966 ICC A further object of the present invention is to provide a magazine section of the character described wherein article-feeding means urge the vendible articles upwardly only when the magazine section is disposed in its articlevending disposition.

A still further object of the present invention is to provide a magazine storage section of the character described in which articles remaining in the section when it is moved into its article-loading disposition are maintained topwardly therein, therebyproviding for article dispensation from the magazine section in a frst-in-rstout sequence.

Yet another object of the present invention is to provide a magazine section of the character described having an article storage cavity adjustable to a predetermined dimensional coniguration corresponding to that of the column of articles to be stored therein and vended therefrom.

These and other objects, advantages, and features of the present invention will hereinafter appear and, for purposes of illustration, but not of limitation, exemplary embodiments of the present invention are shown in the appended drawings, in which:

FIGURE 1 is a perspective view of an exemplary cigarette-vending machine embodying the improvements in the magazine structures herein disclosed;

FIGURE 2 is a similar view showing parts of the cigarette-vending machine housing open for the loading of cigarette packages therein;

FIGURE 3 is a side sectional view of the cigarettevending machine, showing the interrelationship of the magazine sections and the machine housing;

FIGURE 4 is a fragmentary perspective view of several magazine sections embodying the present invention, one of which is disposed in a generally horizontal articleloading disposition;

FIGURE 5 is a cross-sectional view of a magazine section produced in accordance with the present invention, with the section disposed in the article-vending disposition;

FIGURE 6 is a similar view, with the magazine section disposed closely adjacent the article-vending disposition;

FIGURE 7 is a similar View, with the magazine section disposed in the article-loading disposition;

FIGURE 8 is a fragmentary perspective view of portions of magazine sections produced in accordance with the present invention;

FIGURE 9 is a fragmentary rear perspective view of a magazine section, adjusted to its minimum size; and

FIGURE 10 is a similar view of the magazine section adjusted to its maximum size.

With reference to the drawings, the exterior of a vending machine I0 is shown in FIGURE l. The machine 1? comprises a cabinet casing or housing IZsupported by a conventional leg support assembly generally indicated at I4. The housing 12 comprises a rear frame 12R', a a bottom frame IZB generally perpendicular to the rear frame 12R', two parallelly aligned side frames 12L, 12R which extend generally perpendicularly from both the bottom frame IZB and the rear frame 12R', and a top frame extension 12E which extends generally perpendi- .cularly to the rear frame 12R in parallel alignment with the door 12F between a lower chute plate 24 and an upper chute plate 26 which are iixedly mounted on the door 12F in spaced relationship so as to define the port 25 therebetween. A cover panel 20 (preferably transparent) is pivotally mounted on a panel pivot axis 19 (see FIG- URE 3) so that the panel 20 may be rotated from its closed position (shown in FIGURE 1) to its opened position (shown in FIGURE 2). As shown in FIGURES 2 and 3, the upper extremity of the door 12F is provided with ya flange 21 which is `adapted to overlie the ylower extremity of the panel 2|) so as to lock the same in its closed position when the machine 1! is closed by interlocking of the door 12F with the side frame 12R. A delivery guide area 17 is defined beneath the panel 20 Within the housing 12, and the delivery area 17 communicates with the delivery port 25.

A plurality of columnar magazines M are mounted within the housing 12. The magazines M, each of which is adapted to stack a column of articles such as cigarette packages C, are arranged in three rows or banks, namely, a forward bank BF, an intermediate bank BI, and a rear bank BR. The said banks BF, BI, and BR are respectively rotatably mounted in the frame 12 so that any one of the said banks may be rotated from a dispensing position (full lines in FIGURE 3) to a loading position (broken lines in FIGURE 3). FIGURE 2 illustrates the disposition of all three banks when in a loading position.

It will be observed that each of the individual magazines M is disposed in a generally vertical upright disposition for dispensing and is rotated therefrom by approximately 90 to a generally horizontal position for loading.

The banks BF, BI, and BR are mounted in the following manner. The said banks BF, BI, and BR are respectively provided with tubular mounting members 39', 29', and 28 (see FIGURES 3, 4, and 8) which extend generally horizontally between the left side frame 121. and the right side frame 12R.` Pivot shafts 3), 29, and 2S are provided, shafts 30, 29, and 28 respectively passing through the corresponding tubular members 36', 29', and 28. Shaft 30 is rigidly mounted in frame 12, and tubular member 30 is journaled for rotation thereupon. In this manner, bank BF may be rotated through an approximately 90" arc, as indicated by the full and broken line positions for bank BF in FIGURE 3. Tubular mounting member 29 (for bank BI) is xedly attached to shaft 29 so that bank BI pivots with shaft 29. Shaft 29 is rigidly connected to a crank lever 34 (and to a similar symmetrical lever on the opposite side of the machine 10, not shown), and the said crank levers are journaled in frame 12, and in this manner bank BI may be rotated through an approximately 90 arc with some forward and rear- .ward displacement of bank BI, as indicated by the full and broken line positions for shaft 29 in FIGURES 2 and 3. Similarly, tubular member 28 is xedly attached to pivot shaft 28 so that bank BR pivots with shaft 28. Shaft 28 is slidably and rotatably journaled in a slotted link 32 (and in a similar symmetrical link on the opposite side of the machine 10, not shown), and the said linksare rigidly yafhxed to the respective side frames 12R and 12L. In this manner, the bank BR may be rotated through an approximately 90 arc with some forward and rearward displacement of the bank BR, as indicated by the full and broken line positions for the shaft 28 in FIGURES 2 and 3.

A cover plate 23 (preferably transparent) is provided for each bank of magazines, as indicated by 23F, 231, and 23R in FIGURE 3. FIGURE 8 illustrates in greater detail the uppermost extremities of magazines M and their interrelationship with the corresponding cover plates 23. Since the uppermost extremities on each bank are similar, only a single bank B is described in detail. As shown in FIGURE S, the top of each individual magazine M iS positioned ush adjacent the bottom of the cover plate 23 which thus serves as an airtight seal for the top of the magazine M. The top of each magazine M is opened at its front and closed at its two sides, and the rear thereof is provided with article-ejecting means hereinafter described. The volume between the second uppermost article, the cover plate, the closed sides, the rear of the magazine, and the opened front of the magazine defines a dispensing chamber, as indicated by the reference characters DF, DI, and DR in FIGURE 3. As shown in FIG- URE 8, each cigarette package C is in turn urged upwardly against the cover plate 23 (by means hereinafter described) and is positioned within the dispensing charnber DF to act as an expendable piston to be dispensed (by suitable means hereinafter described) outwardly from the magazine M. Exit ramps 62 are provided adjacent the front side of each magazine M beneath the dispensing chamber thereof in order to guide an ejected cigarette package C into the delivery area 17 of the machine 10 and thence into the delivery port 25 for manual pick-up by the customer.

The rear side 41 of magazine M is opened whereby cigarette packages C can be loaded into the empty lower portions of the column when magazine M is disposed in the article-loading disposition (as best seen in FIGURE 4). A cover plate 6i) (preferably provided with an opening handle, not shown) is pivotally attached to magazine M about a spring hinge axis 61. Cover plate 6i) is thus normally biased so as to exert pressure on the cigarette packages C which are stored in magazine M (see FIG- URE 6). A spring-metal retaining bracket 5S is iixedly mounted on magazine M, and a corresponding cover plate extension 60E on cover plate 611 is adapted to be latched thereby when cover plate 60 is rotated in a counterclockwise direction (as seen in FIGURE 7) from its normally biased position into caniming engagement with the uppermost extremity of retaining bracket 58. When cover plate 6l) is latched in its opened position (as just described), cigarette packages C may be loaded in the magazine M through the opening in rear side 41. Exertion of suiicient clockwise rotational force on cover plate 60 results in disengagement of cover plate extension 60E from retaining bracket 58, and cover plate 6i! is returned to the position shown in FIGURE 6.

A screw bearing support 63 on cabinet housing 12 is provided, and an adjustable bearing 62 is threadibly mounted therein. Support 63 and screw 62 are positioned such that cover plate extension 60E abuts against the head of adjustable screw 62 when magazine M is disposed in its article-vending disposition (as shown in FIGURE 5). Proper adjustment of screw 62 results in cover plate 60 being retained (contrary to its normally biased disposition) away from cigarette packages C. Thus, cigarette packages C are free to move upwardly in magazine M and are not hindered by cover plate 60 while magazine M is disposed in its article-vending disposition. When, however, magazine M is pivoted out of its article-vending disposition (see FIGURE 6), cover plate extension 60E no longer abuts against adjustable bearing screw 62, and cover plate 60 is then urged against cigarette packages C, thereby preventing packages C from moving within magazine M while magazine M is being pivoted. The desirability of preventing cigarette packages C from moving within magazine MV during the pivoting thereof is apparent from the fact that packages C may be retained in the upper portions of magazine M, and other packages (not shown) which are loaded into magazine M can thus be loaded at the bottom thereof. Since, as hereinbefore indicated, cigarette packages C are dispensed from the topmost portion of magazine M, a rst-in-irst-out vending sequence can be readily achieved by the present invention.

As best seen in FIGURES 3 and 8, carrier means are provided for supporting the column of cigarette packages C within magazine M. Each individual magazine M is provided with a slidable elevator member 64. Preferably, (see FIGURE 8) elevator member 64 is mounted on a dolly truck 66 by means of a mounting brace 67. Dolly truck 66 is provided with wheels 71 and 72 mounted on axle 68 and wheels 73 and 74 mounted on :axle 69, which .axrles pass through the sides of dolly truck 66. Wheels 71,

72, 73, and 74 run in tracks formed between a pair of flange members 46 and 47 and a pair of respective cooperating ange members 46 and 47. Connecting webs 40 are provided at the upper and lower extremities of magazine M, the function of webs 40 (as best seen in FIGURE 8) being to iirmly anchor and connect ilange members 46 and 47. It is also possible (as shown in FIGURE 3) to employ an elevator member which merely slides within the magazine M, thereby making cooperating ilange members 46 and 47' unnecessary.

In FIGURE 3 the elevator members 64 are marked by reference characters F, I, and R respectively for the front, intermediate, and rear banks of the magazines M. In the described embodiment, each elevator member 64 is provided with a corresponding biasing spring 75 which normally urges the member 65 upwardly relative to the generally vertical article-vending position of its associated magazine M. For example, a spring 75F (see FIGURE 3) is interconnected between an elevator member 64F and the hcusing 12, with the said spring 75F being trained about spring sheave 70F. Similarly, a spring 75l, for intermediate elevator member 64I, is trained about. a sheave 701, and a spring 75R for a rear elevator member 64R is trained about a pair of spring sheaves 7llR and 70R. Each spring 75 passes from its elevator member 64 over its sheave 70 and is hooked to a spring retaining bracket 77. Thus, spring 75F is hooked to bracket 77F, mounted on pivot shaft 30; spring 751 is hooked to bracket 77I, mounted on pivot sh-aft 28; and spring 75R is hooked to bracket 77R, mounted on rear frame 12R.

The effect of the spring loaded elevator member arrangement is to normally urge a column of cigarette packages C upwardly in each individual magazine M when the magazine M is disposed in its generally vertical articlevending disposition. However, when the magazine M is rotated to its generally horizontal article-loading disposition, the elevator member 64 is urged by its associated spring 75 toward the bottom of the magazine M (as shown in FIGURE 4), thereby to allow for the loading of fresh cigarette packages between the packages contained in the magazine and the corresponding elevator member. Thus, the arrangement by which cover plate 60 immobilizes the packages C in the magazine M during the movement to the generally horizontal article-vending disposition prevents the said packages from falling to the bottom of the magazine M while an elevator member 64 is being drawn to the bottom thereof by its associated spring 75. This arrangement allows for a rst-in-first-out inventory status for the cigarette packages, since the packages can be loaded into the bottommost portion of the magazine M while the uppermost packages are dispensed from the magazine rst.

Preferably, each magazine M is adjustable to provide for storage and vending articles of different size. FIG- URES 9 and l0 best illustrate the preferred arrangement whereby the magazine configuration is rendered adjustable. In the embodiment shown in FIGURES 5-7 the magazine M is, for purposes of simplicity, shown with a xed configuration. However, it will be apparent to one skilled in the art that the coniiguration adjustment arrangement, hereinafter to be described, can readily be incorporated in the arrangement illustrated in FIGURES 5-7.

The magazine M (shown in FIGURES 9 and l0) comprises a support channel member 39 which has a back wall 41 and a pair of side walls 42 and 43 disposed perpendicularly to back wall 41. A side wall 44 is preferably integrally formed with flange member 47, and likewise a side wall member 45 is preferably integrally formed with flange member 46. Side wall members 44 and 45 are maintained in parallelly disposed planes to one another by means of connecting webs 40, which fix flange members 46 and 47 in spatial relationship to one another. Connecting webs 40 are not shown in FIGURES 9 or 10, but are clearly illustrated in FIGURE 8. Side wall members 44 and 45 are adapted to fit ilush respectively against side walls 42 and 43, but are slidable with respect thereto, whereby the front portion of magazine M (comprising flange members 46 and 47 and side wall members 44 and 45) is reciprocally slidable, as a unit, in and out of supporting channel member 39. The reciprocal movement is limited and controlled by means of a column retaining tab 52 on side wall member 45, tab 52 passing through slot 53 in side wall 43. A length adjusting screw 56 is also provided, and screw 56 passes through a mounting bracket 54 and threadibly through a mounting bracket 55. A spring 57 is disposed about adjusting screw 56 and between mounting brackets 54 and 55 so as to maintain cooperation flange members 46' and 47 at the maximum distance from rear side 41, as determined by the effective length of adjusting screw 56. The distance between flange members 46 and 4'7 and rear side 41 may thus be adjusted by merely rotating adjusting screw 56 so as to shorten (as in FIGURE 9) or lengthen (as in FIGURE 10) the distance between mounting brackets 54 and 55.

Means are also provided to adjust the width of the magazine cross-section. A width adjusting baffle plate 43, having anges 37 and 38 extending perpendicularly thereto, is disposed parallelly to side walls 42, 43 and side wall members 44, 45. The width of bafe plate 48 corresponds to the minimum possible distance between rear side 41 and tiange members 46', 47. Baifle plate 48 is movable between the position shown in FIGURE 9 (minimum width) and that shown in FIGURE 10 (maximum width). Movement of baille plate 48 is limited by set screw 50, which passes through a slot 51 in rear side 41 and is threadibly connected to ange 37 of baie plate 48. When screw 5G is loosened, baille plate 4S is slidable to any desired position (limited only by the ends of slot 51). After baille plate 48 is disposed in the desired position, screw 50 may be tightened, thereby immobilizing baille plate 48.

The elevator member 64 must be adapted to be operable with a magazine M of varying cross-sectional configuration. This is preferably accomplished by utilizing an elevator member having a xed cross-section shape corresponding to that of magazine M, adjusted to its minimum size (as seen in FIGURE 9). It is also possible to employ an adjustable elevator member, the cross-sectional area of which could be varied with that of the magazine itself.

The adjustment of the configuration of magazines M may be summarized as follows. With magazine M adjusted to receive vendible articles of a minimum size (as in FIGURE 9), the length of magazine M is increased by rotating length adjusting screw 56 in such a manner as to increase the distance between bracket 54 (on side wall 43) and bracket 55 (on side wall member 45). Spring 57 urges bracket 54 and 55 apart (side wall members 44 and 45 sliding out with respect to corresponding side walls 42 and 43). The amount by which the length of magazine M will be adjusted correspond to the increase in distance between brackets 54 and 55 which in turn depends on the number of turns given adjusting screw 56. The maximum possible magazine length (shown in FIG- URE 10) is obtained when adjusting screw 56 barely engages bracket 55. The width may be adjusted by loosening set screw 50, thereby freeing baffle plate 48 which may be manually placed in the desired position. The extremities of slot 5I delimit the movement of baffle plate 48 by means of set screw 50 which passes through slot 5l and threadibly engages ange 37 on baille plate 48. As previously indicated, FIGURE 9 illustrates a magazine M adjusted to minimum length and width, and FIGURE l0 illustrates the said magazine M adjusted to maximum length and width.

As hereinbefore indicated, ejection means F, 901, and 90K (shown schematically in broken lines in FIGURE 3) are provided for exerting force on earch topmost cigarette package C in the magazines M of respective banks BF, BI,

and BR so as, upon actuation, to eject each package C from the column, over exit ramp 62 and into the delivery area 17, and thereupon into the delivery port 25 for pickup by the customer. In the described embodiment, the ejectiug force is pneumatically provided by a blast of compressed air from a compressor 37 (shown schematically in broken lines in FIGURE 3), in the manner disclosed in copending United States patent application, entitled Pneumatic Vending Machine, tiled June 30, 1964, in the na-rne of Henryk W. Meresz and Marino R. Perpignan, Serial No. 379,073. It will be apparent to one skilled in the art, however, that other suitable article-ejecting means might be utilized in combination with the present inven tion. Thus, conventional mechanical or electro-mechanical ejector means may be utilized, it being understood that pneumatic dispensation is merely illustrative of the environment for utilizing the teachings of the subject invention.

While the invention has been described with particular reference to a machine for vending articles from the topmost portion thereof, it should be understood that certain features of the invention could be useful with various other arrangements, such as bottom vending. Although gravity could be utilized to feed the vendible articles down the column, as is conventional in the art, the magazine configuration adjustment feature herein disclosed, together with the novel fold-out loading arrangement, could be employed to great advantage even in a bottom vending machine. A machine designed for top vending is preferable so that all of the magazine structure improvements of the present invention may be utilized.

Obviously, many other modifications and variations of the present invention are possible. It is to be understood that the invention is not limited in its application to the details of construction and arrangement for parts specifically described or illustrated. It should be further understood that various changes, modications, and alterations may be elected in the parts and elements of the described embodiment without departing from the spirit and scope of the present invention, as described in the appended claims.

What is claimed is:

1. In a vending machine, improved magazine structure comprising:

a plurality of wall members defining an article-storing magazine section, the said magazine section being pivotally mounted in the vending machine between a generally vertical article-vending disposition and a generally horizontal article-loading disposition;

an opening in one of the wall members, adapted for the admission of vendible articles;

movable cover means for covering the said opening;

biasing means normally urging the cover means against a column of vendible articles disposed within the magazine section;

bearing means adapted to prevent the cover means from contacting the column of vendible articles when the magazine section' is disposed in its article-vending disposition;

carrier means for supporting a column of vendible articles disposed within the magazine section; and

biasing means urging the carrier means upwardly only when the magazine section is disposed in the articlevending disposition, the said biasing means being adapted to withdraw the carrier means away from the column of vendible articles when the magazine section is disposed in its article-loading disposition,

whereby vendible articles are dispensible from the magazine section in a rst-in-rst-out sequence.

2. An improved magazine structure, as claimed in claim 1, wherein the wall members are movable relative to each other in order to adjust their respective positions and further comprising means for stabilizing the wall members in their respective adjusted positions, whereby the magazine section ViS adjustable to a predetermined cross-sectional configuration for vending articles having a corresponding cross-sectional configuration` 3. In a vending machine, improved magazine structure comprising:

a pair of parallelly disposed side wall members;

a front wall member disposed generally perpendicularly to the side wall members;

a rear wall member disposed generally perpendicularly to the side wall members and thus generally parallelly to the front wall member, the said rear wall, front wall, and side wall members defining an article storage magazine section, the said magazine section being pivotally mounted in the vending machine between a generally vertical article-vending disposition and a generally horizontal article-loading disposition;

an opening in the rear wall member, adapted for the admission of vendible articles;

a cover plate pivotally mounted on the magazine section, the said plate being adapted to overlie the opening in the rear wall member;

biasing means normally urging the cover plate against a column of vendible articles disposed within the magazine section;

bearing means adapted to prevent the.cover plate from contacting the column of vendible articles when the magazine section is disposed in its article-vending disposition;

an elevator dolly, recipr-ocally movable in the magazine section, the said dolly being adapted to support a column of vendible articles disposed within the magazine section; and

spring-biasing means adapted to urge the elevator dolly (upwardly only when the magazine section is disposed in the article-vending disposition, the said spring biasing means being adapted to withdraw the elevator dolly away from the column of vendible articles when the magazine section is disposed in its article-loading disposition,

whereby vendible articles are dispensible from the magazine section in a trst-in-irst-out sequence.

4. An improved magazine structure, as ciaimed in claim 3, wherein the front Wall member is movable relative to the rear wall member in order to adjust the crosssectional length of the magazine section and further comprising means for stabilizing the front wall member in its adjusted position.

5. An improved magazine structure, as claimed in claim 3, and further comprising a width-adjusting bacle plate disposed in the said magazine section generally parallelly to the side wall members and movable with respect thereto in order to adjust the cross-sectional Width of the magazine section and means for stabilizing the Width-adjusting bale plate in its adjusted position.

6. A11 improved magazine structure, as claimed in claim 3, wherein the front wall member is movable relative to the rear Wall member in order to adjust the crosssectional length of the magazine section, and further comprising a width-adjusting baie plate disposed in the said magazine section generally parallelly to the side wall members and movable with respect thereto in order to adjust the crosssectional width of the magazine section and means for stabilizing the front wall member and the width-adjusting baiie plate in their respective adjusted positions.

7. In a vending machine, improved magazine structure comprising:

a magazine section adapted to contain a column of vendible articles, the said magazine section being pivotally mounted in the vending machine between a generally vertical article-vending disposition and a generally horizontal article-loading disposition;

an elevator dolly reciprocally movable in the magazine section, the said dolly being adapted to support a column of vendible articles disposed within the magazine section; and

spring biasing means adapted to urge the elevator dolly the column of vendible articles when the said corresupwardly only when the magazine section is disposed pending bank of magazine sections is disposed in in its article-vending disposition, the said spring biasthe generally horizontal article-loading disposition, ing means being adapted to withdraw the elevator whereby vendible articles are dispensible from each dolly away from the column of vendible articles magazine section in a rst-in-first-out sequence. when the magazine section is disposed in its article- 10. An improved magazine structure, as claimed in loading disposition, claim 9, wherein the wall members are movable with whereby vendible articles articles are dispensible from espect to each other and further comprising means for the magazine section in a rst-in-rst-out sequence. stabilizing the wall members in their respective adjusted S. In a vending machine, improved magazine structure positions, whereby each of the magazine sections is adcomprising: instable to a predetermined cross-sectional conguration a pair of parallelly disposed side wall members; for vending articles having a corresponding crossa front wall member disposed generally perpendicularly sectional configuration.

to the side wall members;

sections is disposed in the generally vertical articlevending disposition, the said biasing means being adapted to withdraw the carrier means away from 11. In a vending machine, improved magazine structure a rear wall member disposed generally parallelly to comprising:

to the front wall member, and thus generally pera plurality of wall members delining a plurality of pendicularly to the side wall members, the rear wall article-storing magazine sections, the said magazine member, the front wall members, and the side wall sections being disposed side-by-side in a series of members defining a magazine section of generally banks each bank of magazine sections being pivotally rectangular cross-sectional contiguration adapted to mounted in the vending machine between a generally contain a column of vendible articles, the said magavertical article-vending disposition and a generally zine section being pivotally mounted in the vending horizontal article-loading disposition; machine between a generally verticle article-vending an opening in one of the wall members in each said disposition and a generally horizontal article-loadmagazine section adapted for the admission of vendiing disposition; ble articles;

an opening in the rear wall member, adapted for the a plurality of movable cover means, one for each magaadmission of vendible articles; zine section, for overlying the opening in the wall a cover plate pivotally mounted on the magazine secmember of each magazine section;

tion, the said cover plate being adapted to overlie biasing means normally urging each cover means the opening in the rear wall member; against a column of vendible articles in the magazine biasing means normally urging the cover plate against section associated therewith;

a column of vendible articles disposed within the a plurality of bearing means, one for each cover means, magazine section; and each bearing means adapted to prevent a correspondbearing means adapted to prevent the cover plate from ing cover means from contacting the column of contacting the column of vendible articles when the vendible articles in the magazine section associated magazine section is disposed in its article-vending therewith when the corresponding bank of magazine disposition, sections is disposed in its generally vertical articlewhereby vendible articles are immobilized in the magavending disposition;

zine section whenever the magazine section is pivoted a plurality of carrier means, one for eaoh magazine out of its article-vending disposition. section, each said means being adapted to support 9. In a vending machine, improved magazine structure a column of vendible articles disposed within the comprising: magazine section;

a plurality of wall members defining a plurality of a plurality of biasing means, one for each carrier means,

article-storing magazine sections, the said magazine adapted to urge its corresponding carrier means upsections being disposed side-by-side in a series of wardly when the corresponding bank of magazine banks, each bank of magazine sections being pivotally sections is disposed in the generally vertical articlemounted in the vending machine between a generally vending disposition, the said biasing means being verticle article-vending disposition and a generally adapted to withdraw the carrier means away from horizontal article-loading disposition; the column of vendible articles when the said corresan opening in one of the wall members in each said POndilg bank 0f magazine Sections iS diSPOSed in the magazine section adapted for the admission of generally horizontal article-loading disposition; and vendible articles; pneumatic dispensing means adapted to selectively eject a plurality of movable cover means, one for each magathe topmost article from a predetermined magazine zine section, for overlying the opening in the wall section by means of a blast of compressed air, member of each magazine section; whereby vendible articles are dispensible from each of biasing means normally urging the cover means against the magazine sections in a lirst-in-rst-out sequence.

a coOlumn `of vendible articles in each magazine References Cited by the Examiner secr n;

a plurality of bearing means, one for each cover means, UNITED STATES PATENTS each bearing means being adapted to prevent a 730,871 6/ 1903 Callander 221-155 corresponding cover means from contacting the 7 82,430 2/ 1905 Tone 221--281 column of vendible articles in a given magazine 847,863 3/ 1907 Watts 221-242 section when the corresponding bank of magazine 1,395,941 11/ 1921 Beattie 221-242 sections is disposed in its generally verticle article 1,666,849 4/ 1928 Fry 221-242 vending disposition; 1,926,436 9/1933 Eldean 221-198 a plurality of carrier means, one for each magazine 1,926,848 9/ 1933 Giles 221-227 section, each said means being adapted to support 2,893,596 7/ 1959 Gabrielsen 221-227 a column of vendible articles disposed within the 2,960,373 11/ 1960 Caruso 221--197 magazine section; and 3,019,941 2/ 1962 Gabrielsen et al. 221-232 a plurality of biasing means, one for each carrier means, 3,144,170 8/ 1964 Peer 221-287 adapted to urge its corresponding carrier means up- 3,163,327 12/1964 Maxwell 221 197 wardly when the corresponding bank of magazine 3,163,965 2/1965 Rim 221-242 ROBERT B. REEVES, Primary Examiner.

WALTER SOBIN, Examiner. 

7. IN A VENDING MACHINE, IMPROVED MAGAZINE STRUCTURE COMPRISING: A MAGAZINE SECTION ADAPTED TO CONTAIN A COLUMN OF VENDIBLE ARTICLES, THE SAID MAGAZINE SECTION BEING PIVOTALLY MOUNTED IN THE VENDING MACHINE BETWEEN A GENERALLY VERTICAL ARTICLE-VENDING DISPOSITION AND A GENERALLY HORIZONTAL ARTICLE-LOADING DISPOSITION; AN ELEVATOR DOLLY RECIPROCALLY MOVABLE IN THE MAGAZINE SECTION, THE SAID DOLLY BEING ADAPTED TO SUPPORT A COLUMN OF VENDIBLE ARTICLES DISPOSED WITHIN THE MAGAZINE SECTION; AND SPRING BIASING MEANS ADAPTED TO URGE THE ELEVATOR DOLLY UPWARDLY ONLY WHEN THE MAGAZINE SECTION IS DISPOSED IN ITS ARTICLE-VENDING DISPOSITION, THE SAID SPRING BIASING MEANS BEING ADAPTED TO WITHDRAW THE ELEVATOR DOLLY AWAY FROM THE COLUMN OF VENDIBLE ARTICLES WHEN THE MAGAZINE SECTION IS DISPOSED IN ITS ARTICLELOADING DISPOSITION, WHEREBY VENDIBLE ARTICLES ARTICLES ARE DISPENSIBLE FROM THE MAGAZINE SECTION IN A FIRST-IN-FIRST-OUT SEQUENCE. 